Lethbridge hosts inaugural suicide awareness conference for first responders [Video]

Legacy Place Society held a conference in southern Alberta for first responders to connect and share stories of surviving suicide.

The gathering of over 100 police officer, paramedics, firefighters, soldiers and other emergency personnel allowed for a discussion around suicide.

Benjamin Vernon is a captain paramedic for the City of San Diego fire department in California. He travels the continent sharing his harrowing escape with death that eventually led him down an equally dark path.

“I was just desperate to share my story so that others wouldn’t struggle like I did. I got really close to suicide, diagnosed with (post-traumatic stress disorder) in 2015,” Vernon said.

While responding to a medical call, Vernon was nearly killed.

“My attempted murder was caught on video,” said Vernon. “Because there was video evidence of a mental health injury, it made it considerably easier, and I think the only reason I realized I could reach out for help was because people could see my …